A house doesn't have to be stripped of its Victorian past to have a modern, contemporary feel! Here, the natural woodwork, red pine floors and brick walls work beautifully with the living room-dining room-kitchen's open floor plan, further extended by glass doors looking out to the brick back yard. You can still sit on the Victorian front porch and chat with the neighbors, and the original energy-efficient vestibule, with handsome encaustic floor tiles and marble on the lower walls, is still the entry to this c. 1889 townhouse. The current owners have completed some serious behind-the-scenes projects, like new HVAC in 2015 and upgrades to the basement walls & floor. Just last year they designed and installed a half bath on the 1st floor, and the recent kitchen renovation includes countertops of recycled glass, a 6-burner stove for serious cooking, great lighting, and loads of cabinet space. Upstairs, the second floor has 3 bedrooms and a bath with laundry and an original claw-footed soaking tub. The entire third floor is a large main bedroom suite, complete with lots of closet space and a handsome private bath. The next owner may want to add a roof deck - the door is already in place! Located in the Spruce Hill section of University City, this townhouse is in the catchment area for the popular K-8 Penn Alexander public school, just 2 blocks to the north. (Catchment area doesn't guarantee school admission, but for the last several years, all kindergarten applicants have been admitted.) The house is a couple of blocks from the local "main street," Baltimore Ave., where the Green Line coffee shop and the new restaurant/bar Clarkville are on the corners. Across Baltimore Ave. is Clark Park, site for so many local activities including a farmer's market, youth sports, sledding for all ages in "the bowl," concerts, plays, and the annual Spruce Hill May Fair. There are other popular restaurants and shops along Baltimore Ave. Permit parking along 43rd eases parking congestion.